#WhatsInYourBag has become a popular segment in the worlds of technology, fashion, beauty and more. Websites and social media photos show a high-end tech blogger or beauty expert as they dump out their purse or bag to reveal and discuss their daily “must haves.” Of course, their “must haves” for a day typically include expensive gadgets, makeup or accessories. Which made us wonder, what about the chronic illness bag? I bet individuals with IBD would have a very different list of “must haves” when dumping our their bag of daily necessities.

So we asked our advocates to share what’s in their bags. What do they carry with them on a regular basis? Some of the items are rather obvious, some items are very personal, but all the items craft a picture of life with IBD:

In here are my wallet, glasses case, a pen (to do crosswords with), a comb, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, some glasses cleaning wipes and a whole bunch of ostomy-related stuff – ostomy bags, Eakin seals, Chux (these are the kitchen cloths I use to clean around my stoma), a towel and some little plastic bags – I think these are dog poop bags? – and also a free sample I got from the last ostomy meeting I attended, in this case some little pellets you put in your bag to firm up your stool so you can sleep soundly through the night (didn’t work for me). Plus a bunch of drugs, which include painkillers, cold and flu tablets, Gastrostop (when I need to slow things down) and a hayfever tablet.

At this point in my life, everything in my bag is pretty much mom-focused and doesn’t have much to do with IBD, but here it is:

Diapers

Wipes

Changing pad

Wallet

Sunglasses/case

Change of baby clothes

Wash cloth

Pacifier

Snacks (There were actually 5!)

Cough drops

Lip gloss and chapstick

Pencil

Nail file

Hand sanitizer

Hand lotion

Just like inflammatory bowel disease, no two people will have the same bag of must-haves. Of course our bags are not always the same as time goes by. Our lives change, just like the seasons, and bring new challenges and needs for preparation. How about you? What’s in your bag? What items do you carry on you at all times?